Marine technology company Wärtsilä has developed a dedicated fuel supply system for methanol called MethanolPac.
When combined with the recently announced Wärtsilä 32 Methanol engine and the company’s retrofit and system integration capabilities, the methanol fuel supply system will enable the company to provide methanol-capable fuel and power systems to a range of vessel types.
The MethanolPac system consists of both the low- and high-pressure parts of the fuel supply system and the necessary control and safety functions. Other parts of the package consist of the high-pressure methanol fuel pump unit, a low-pressure pump module, a fuel valve train, bunkering stations and the tank instrumentation.
Wärtsilä’s solution will be utilized for the first time on board a wind turbine installation vessel currently under construction for ship operator Van Oord. The new-build will also see the debut installation of a Wärtsilä 32 Methanol engine.
The Wärtsilä 32 Methanol engine and MethanolPac are among the first commercially available technologies using methanol as a fuel for some vessel segments. Furthermore, the Wärtsilä 32 Methanol engine can be deployed as either a main engine or an auxiliary generator.
Additionally, methanol fuel injection can be retrofitted to any of the conventionally fueled Wärtsilä 32 engines currently in operation.
“MethanolPac will reassure shipowners who may not know where to turn for help designing their methanol fuel and power system,” said Mathias Jansson, director, fuel gas supply systems, Wärtsilä Marine Power. “Wärtsilä does not just provide the methanol engine, we have the systems and capabilities to help customers realize methanol-fueled vessels in full.”
By 2023 Wärtsilä will develop an ammonia-fueled engine concept, and a hydrogen concept by 2025.